March 31, 2008

I’ve been embroiled in this dear-God-I’m-becoming-one-of-those-kinds-of-people dog rescue situation, and I didn’t want to post until I was certain of the outcome.

Long story short:

Cristian and I decide to take Fluppy for an evening stroll.

A sad, sad man stops us as we’re walking and asks if we’ve seen his lost dog. He has a flyer with her name and picture on it. He is so, so sad. We solemnly promise to keep a lookout. I clutch Fluppy’s leash just a little bit tighter.

20 seconds after the man drives off, a dog runs across the street ahead of us. This dog looks a lot like the dog on the flyer. A whole Hell of a lot. “Belle!” we call, giddy with do-goodery, “Belle, come here!”

The dog runs right over, thrilled to be greeted in a friendly fashion.

Upon inspection, there is no way this dog is Belle.

I mean, he has giant testicles, for one thing.

What we’ve done is, we’ve called a stray dog over to us. A needy, skinny mutt. With mangy fur.

At least he’s friendly. He practically tap dances alongside as we make our way back home.

We lure him into our backyard and close up the gate. Fluppy is pretty much OMGWTF at this point. She wants us to know that she can tap dance too, that she is the Ann Miller of tap dancing dogs, that there is no way we could ever do any better.

A heartfelt conversation is had between the primates of the household. The primates decide to take Lil NoName into Austin’s animal shelter, and adopt him only if it comes down to either us or the executioner’s chair.

A week passes. NoName has oodles of charm and a handsome mug, but so do 300 other dogs at the pound.

Perhaps his complicating medical factors are what turn potential adopters away? He has heartworms, mange, and a respiratory infection.

No one else steps up to bat, so Cristian goes off to the shelter to bail sweet lil NoName out, while I work overtime in anticipation of some hefty vet bills.

February 22, 2008

I don’t even know what to do with you Brussels Sprout people. Has a vegetable ever been so defended? Isn’t there another cause out there more worthy of promulgation?

I mean, I like the little guys ok, but even roasted I find them lacking in…….vitality. They have neither the friendly verve of the roasted beet, nor the amiable sweetness of the roasted carrot. They are bitter little cabbages, even after being given 40 minutes in a hot oven to think about the meaning of life. Yeah, I said it.

Now, Cristian. Cristian is a Brussels Sprout person. Sometimes, even before this local eating endeavor, I bought us Brussels Sprouts for dinner, because I am a loving and selfless person who also knows how to set things up so I don’t have to do the dishes. On Brussels Sprouts nights, Cristian all but rolls on the dining room floor with anticipation and excitement. So don’t think I haven’t been proselytized when it comes to Brussels Sprouts. I have heard it all.

February 20, 2008

We are eating a LOT of dairy. Somehow cheese, the anti-carb, has taken the place of grain in our diet. The thing is, we aren’t eating pasta, rice, etc right now – we’re eating root vegetables, along with brussel sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower. These vegetables are ok on their own, but really, they TASTE A LOT BETTER WITH CHEESE. Either that, or butter. Or both.

Also: local cheese is delicious.

I am sick of doing the dishes. Sick unto death of doing the dishes.

Everything we’re eating does taste better – fresher, more flavorful, just like all those eat local boosters said it would.

People at the farmer’s market this time of year are COMPETITIVE. You want beets? Better get to the market before 9 am. Because all the other local eaters are going to be there, and they don’t want to get stuck eating kale all week any more than you do.

This would be ridiculously easy to do in California. Every week Cristian and I go to the fancy gourmet grocery store around the corner from our house, because their produce is all clearly labeled as to where it came from, and 90% of everything is from California. *shakes fist at lucky Californians who aren’t eating brussel sprouts 4 times a week*

It costs more to eat this way. I have a lot of friends who would argue me to the death on this one – that if you eat vegan, whole foods, just produce and grains, it would be cheaper. They’re wrong. Everything costs more. Which is totally ok. Cristian does start clawing at his neck at bit, remembering his cold can of bean days, when we’re paying $4.00 a pound for tomatoes, say, or $1.50 for 5 garlic cloves, but it just costs more, and that’s all there is to it. It’s scary to think that most people on the planet couldn’t afford to eat if it wasn’t for the unsustainable excesses of agribusiness.